Sustainability

What do US President Woodrow Wilson and music legend Paul McCartney have in common?  They are both instrumental in promoting meat free meals, but for very different reasons.

When the US entered World War 1, Wilson advocated having one meat free meal per day, and one meat free day per week as a way of saving meat for the troops serving overseas.  President Truman ran a similar campaign in World War 2.  It is hard to quantify the impact that this had on the troops, but there is no doubt that it engendered a sense of sacrifice amongst the population at home.  

Fast forward to 2009 and Paul McCartney and his family promoted the same idea, but this time as a way of reducing the impact of our food on climate change.  The McCartney's promoted the idea of Meatless Mondays to reduce the amount of methane that enters the atmosphere from the production of meat, particularly beef.  Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and cows produce copious amounts of this gas through their digestive system.  Estimates vary, but approximately 15% of global greenhouse gases are produced through raising livestock for human consumption.

In the age of lockdown, consider having a Meatless Monday as your small contribution to reducing greenhouse gases.

Mr Craig Moore

Sustainability Coordaintor